**Margaret Dumont (1882-1965)** was an American actress, famous for her performances alongside the Marx Brothers, earning her the nickname "the fifth Marx Brother."

Specializing in roles as wealthy, dignified, and socially prominent women, she was the perfect comedic foil. Her characters, often the target of the Marxes' insane antics and schemes, maintained a placid unawareness and noble composure despite the chaos.

Among her most celebrated films with the Marx Brothers are masterpieces such as *Animal Crackers* (1930), *Duck Soup* (1933), *A Night at the Opera* (1935), and *A Day at the Races* (1937). Dumont also acted with other great comedians of the era, including W.C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy, solidifying her reputation as one of Hollywood's most iconic "straight women."